Policy 927 - Network Security Policy

Section: Information Technology
Policy Number: 927
Responsible Office: Information Technology
Effective Date: 5/1/19
Revised: 5/1/19; 6/11/20; 5/23/22

Policy Statement

This policy sets out guidance for implementing security measures for St. John’s University’s (St. John’s) network systems. The established rules for network protection enable the Office of Information Technology (IT) to create and maintain a secure network for its IT infrastructure.

Scope and Applicability

This policy is applicable to the St. John’s Office of Information Technology (IT), but its scope covers the entire University community. Adherence to this policy helps safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of St. John’s information assets, and protects the interest of St. John’s, its customers, personnel, and business partners.

Policy

The use of networks is an essential part of the day-to-day business of St. John’s. Networks not only connect many of the components of business processes together internally, but they also link the organization with its suppliers, customers, stakeholders, and the outside world. These networks need to be protected to ensure that the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of St. John’s vital information is at all times secure.

St. John’s sets out appropriate security requirements to protect its information assets within its network and implements the following controls:

Network segregation
Perimeter security
Remote access
Public/untrusted networks
Network configurations
Firewalls and routers
Wireless network
Intrusion detection system and intrusion prevention system
Defined roles and responsibilities
File-integrity monitoring
System hardening

Definitions

The following are definitions relevant to the policy:

University community: Includes faculty, administrators, staff, student workers, graduate/technical assistants, alumni, interns, guests, or agents of the administration, external individuals, and organizations accessing University network services, and other authorized users

Compliance

St. John’s reserves the right to audit networks and systems on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with this policy. Instances of noncompliance must be presented to be reviewed and approved by the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Director of Information Security, or the equivalent officer(s).

All breaches of information security, actual or suspected, must be reported to and investigated by the CIO and the Director of Information Security.

Those who violate security policies, standards, or security procedures are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including loss of computer access and appropriate disciplinary actions as determined by St. John’s.